Card dispensing apparatus



April 1,969 c. w. CARTER, JR 3,439,834

CARD DISPENSING APPARATUS Filed June 2, 1967 Sheet of 2 IO ro 10 m I0 I 1| II 1 1W 2: 2 1 2! 21 21 2! 2: 2: 2: 2: 32 3! 27 at I 22 7 35 34 3a 39 1 1 1 I I ;m J H7 43 43 43 43 43 43 43 43 43 43 a FIG. I

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CARD DISPENSING APPARATUS Sheet Filed June 2, 1967 FIG. 8'

LINVENT 'OR CLAUD W. CARTER, JR.

FIG. 7

ATTORNEY United States Patent 3,439,834 CARD DISPENSING APPARATUS Claud W. Carter, .lr., Waco, Tex., assignor to Duo-Vend Corporation, Waco, Tex., a corporation of Texas Filed June 2, 1967, Ser. No. 643,187 Int. Cl. G07f 11/16; B6511 1/00 US. Cl. 221-7 14 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE Card dispensing apparatus wherein a reciprocally operated, apertured plate closes off the lower end of a magazine containing a plurality of cards to be dispensed. A slidably mounted, solenoid operated latch engages a tab on the apertured plate to remove the lowest card in the magazine and dispense it in one direction and remove the next lowest card in the magazine and dispense it in an opposite direction. The solenoid operated latch is automatically released from the apertured plate by means of a release bar actuated When the plate reaches a first position.

Background 0 the invention Drive-in and short order restaurants sustain a substantial reduction in profits as a result of unpaid food orders. Even in those operations where the food is paid for upon delivery, there is a substantial loss as a result of the patron leaving after placing his order. This is especially critical in drive-in type restaurants. By using the card dispensing apparatus of this invention, this loss is eliminated since the food orders are prepaid.

Although the present invention is especially designed for use to deliver cards as food claim tickets at a restaurant it is of course capable of use in many different areas, for example, parking lots.

In accordance with the present invention, two cards are dispensed, one for use by a proprietor, such as a cook, and the other for use by a customer. The invention provides an improved coin controlled machine for dispensing cards from a magazine stored stack. Preferably, the cards are stacked surface to surface, that is, being in a horizontal disposition and lying one on another. A reciprically operated, apertured plate removes one card from the magazine and dispenses it to the proprietor and a second card and dispenses it to the customer.

In the case of a restaurant operation, a plurality of magazines are provided each to dispense cards identifying a particular food item. All the cards in one magazine may be for ordering a soft drink, in a second magazine for ordering a hamburger, and in a third magazine for ordering French fries. The customer selects the food items that satisfy his pleasure by depositing the correct amount of money in a coin slot associated with the magazine containing the cards of the desired food item. Depositing the correct amount of money in the coin slot actuates the reciprocally operated, apertured, plate to dispense one card to a cook and the second card to the customer. After the food item has been prepared, the customer surrenders his card in exchange for the purchased food item. Should the customer leave before he receives his order, the loss would be on the customer and not the restaurant owner.

In accordance with the present invention, the apertured plate for dispensing two magazine stored cards in opposite directions is reciprocally operated by means of a 7 Patented Apr. 22, 1969 ICC plate preset to operate through one cycle as a result of closing a coin controlled switch. As the apertured plate ,moves from its first position to its home position, a second card is dispensed.

One of the features of this invention is that there is provided a relatively simple, substantially jam proof, card dispensing apparatus.

In accordance with another feature of the invention, there is provided a near fool-proof card dispensing apparatus which assures that only two cards will be delivered during each operation. For two cards to be dispensed, the solenoid operated latch engages the apertured plate to move it to a first position and the motor-driven return plate returns the apertured plate to its home posiion. Should the solenoid operated latch fail and remain in engagement with the apertured plate, the motor still operates through only one cycle which terminates when the apertured plate has been returned to its home position. On the other hand, should the motor continue to operate for more than one cycle, the latch is disengaged from the apertured plate as the plate reaches its first position and does not engage the plate again even though the drive motor continues to operate.

Summary of the invention Card dispensing apparatus including a magazine having an open lower end for dispensing cards stored in said magazine, and an apertured plate containing two openings closing off the bottom of the magazine reciprocally operated between a first position and a home position.

Brief description of the drawings FIGURE 1 is an outside rear elevation of a ten magazine solenoid operated card dispensing device;

FIGURE 2 is a side view of the card dispensing apparatus of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a schematic showing the operation of dispensing a card from a magazine;

FIGURE 4 is a plan view of a typical apertured plate for use with this invention;

FIGURE 5 is a detailed side view of a solenoid operated latch;

FIGURE 6 is a schematic of another view showing the operation of dispensing a card from a magazine;

FIGURE 7 is a side view of the device of FIGURE 1 duplexed to provide a twenty magazine dispenser; and

FIGURE 8 is a schematic of a slide operated card dispensing device.

Description of the preferred embodiments Referring to FIGURE 1, there is shown a mechanism for dispensing cards from ten magazines on an individual magazine basis or simultaneously. The magazines 10 are supported on a platform having a base 11, side braces 12 and 13, a top panel 14, and a lower panel 16. The magazines 10 being directly mounted to the upper panel 14 such as shown in FIGURE 2. Continuing to refer to FIG- URE 2, each magazine 10' includes a chute 17 having a throat 1-8 for loading cards into the magazine. A deflector 19 extends from the throat 1 8 into the magazine 10 to insure that the cards are stacked surface to surface for jamproof dispensing thereof.

Associated with each of the magazines 10 is a solenoid operated finger latch 21 mounted to a reciprocally operating return plate 22 extending across all the magazines and engaging the top surface of the upper panel 14 and maintained in position by means of guides 23 and 24. The return plate 22 is reciprocally operated by means of linkages 26 and 27 pivotally coupled to brackets 28 and 29, attached to the return plate, and arms 31 and 32 rigidly secured to a shaft 33. An. electric rnotor 34- oscillates the 3 shaft 33 through approximately 180 by means of an eccentrically driven linkage 36.

A release bar 37 extends across the entire width of the magazines 10 and operates in conjunction with the finger latch mechanisms 21. The release bar 37 is spring loaded in the position shown by means of springs 38 and 39 and is moved to a second position downward of the one shown by means of a solenoid 41.

At the open bottom of each magazine 10 there is slidably mounted an apertured plate 42 movable to a first position by means of the finger latch 21 and to a home position by means of the return plate 22, as will be explained shortly. The apertured plates 42 slide between the top surface of the lower panel 16 and the bottom surface of the upper panel 14 and are maintained in place by means of guides formed into the upper panel. Mounted to the underside of the lower panel 16, below each of the magazines 10, is a front slide (not shown) for directing a card to the customer and a back slide 43 for directing a card for use by a proprietor.

Again referring to FIGURE 2, there is shown the shaft 33 mounted to a support 35 fastened to the upper panel 14. Rigidly secured to the shaft 33 is the arm 31 with the linkage 26 pivotally coupled to the arm and to the bracket 28. The bracket 28 is secured to the return plate 22 having mounted thereon the solenoid operated finger latches 21. The spring 38 is shown holding the release bar 37 in its upper position.

Mounted to the upper panel 14, on the throat side of the magazine 10, is a counter 44. A counter is similarly mounted in front of each of the magazines 10 shown in FIGURE 1. The purpose of the counter 44 is to maintain an accurate inventory of the number of items, such as soft drinks, ordered from a particular magazine 10. The operation of the counter 44 will be explained shortly with reference to FIGURE 3.

Referring to FIGURE 3, there is shown schematically one magazine 10 having a plurality of cards 46 stored therein in face to face contact. The counter 44 is shown mounted to the upper panel 14 and has a counting arm 47 extending through an opening in the panel. The arm 47 extends through the upper panel 14 into one of the openings of the apertured plate 42 and is actuated to advance the counter reading as the apertured plate moves through one cycle from the home position (as shown) to a first position by means of the finger latch 21 and back to the home position. Included in the finger latch 21 is a solenoid 48 having a plunger 49 pivotally coupled to a finger 51. A bracket 52 mounted to the return plate 22 supports the solenoid 48. The finger 51 is rotatably mounted to the bracket 52 and spring loaded by means of a hairpin spring 53 engaging the plunger 49 and a latch bar 54.

Referring to FIGURE 4, there is shown an enlarged view of a typical finger latch 21. The bracket 52 is attached to the return plate 22 and supports the solenoid 48, the finger 51, and the latch bar 54.

In operation, the solenoid 48 is energized thereby causing the plunger 49 to move upward against the hairpin spring 53. As the plunger 49 moves upward, the finger 51 rotates counterclockwise until the latch bar 54 engages a notch 56. The latch bar 54 is spring loaded to rotate counterclockwise by means of the hairpin spring 53 thereby holding the finger 51 in the position shown in FIGURE 4 after the solenoid 48 has been de-energized. The solenoid 48 is energized only long enough to insure that the latch bar 54 engages the notch 56.

In the position shown, the finger 51 engages a pin 57, such as shown in FIGURE 5, on the top surface of the apertured plate 42. The apertured plate 42 of FIGURE is a typical embodiment for use with this invention. As shown, the plate includes two square openings for dispensing two of the cards 46 during each cycle of the plate. It should be obvious that other than square shaped cards 46 can be dispensed by modifying the magazines and the shape of the openings in the apertured plate 42. For example, cards having a rectangular shape, a round shape, or an elliptical shape are easily dispensed with only slight modifications.

Returning to FIGURE 3, the finger 51 engages the pin 57 when the solenoid 48 has been energized. Whenever the solenoid of any of the finger latches 21 is energized the motor 34 is also energized thereby causing the arms 31 and 32 to rotate counterclockwise (as viewed in FIGURE 2). Rotation of the arms 31 and 32 causes the return plate 22 to move from the home position shown in FIGURE 3 to a first position shown in FIGURE 6. With the finger 51 engaging the pin 57 of any of the apertured plates 42 that plate moves with the return plate 22 from its home position to its first position. As the apertured plate 42 moves from its home position to its first position, a card 46 is withdrawn from the magazine 10 and discharged through an opening in the lower panel 16 onto the back slide 43. When the apertured plate 42 reaches its first position it engages a limit switch 58 mounted to the lower plate 16. Actuating the limit switch 58 energizes the solenoid 41 thereby moving the release bar 37 from the position shown in FIGURE 3 to the position shown in FIG- URE 6. Referring again to FIGURE 4, as the release bar 37 is brought downward by the solenoid 41 it strikes the latch bar 54 rotating it in a clockwise direction thereby disengaging the latch bar from the notch 56. The hairpin sping 53 rotates the finger 51 in a counterclockwise direction to disengage the pin 57.

At about the time the apertured plate 42 engages the limit switch 58 the eccentrically driven linkage 36 causes the return plate 22 to change directions and move from the position shown in FIGURE 6 to the position shown in FIGURE 3. As the return plate 22 moves to its home position, it makes contact with the pin 57 to push the apertured plate 42 back to its home position.

When the plate 42 reaches its first position, a card 46 drops into the second opening of the apertured plate and is carried forward therewith. As the plate 42 reaches its home position, this card drops through an opening in the lower panel 16 onto the front slide 59, as shown in FIGURE 3. During movement of the apertured plate 42, the arm 47 of the counter 44 is rotated counterclockwise as shown in FIGURE 6 thereby advancing the counter reading by one digit. When the apertured plate 42 reaches its home position, the arm 47 again returns to a vertical position as shown in FIGURE 3.

The electrical circuit for the ten magazine, card dispensing system shown in FIGURE 1 includes the windings of the motor 34, the solenoids 48 of the finger latches 21, and the solenoid 41. Each of the solenoids 48 is connected to a source of volts AC by means of a standard coin operated switch found in many dispensing machines. It is not believed necessary for an understanding of this invention to describe the operation of the coin operated switch. Sufiice to say that upon depositing coins totaling a given value into a slot, a switch will be automatically closed. In accordance with the present invention, depositing the proper number of coins into a slot associated with any of the magazines 10 automatically closes the appropriate coin operated switch associated with a particular magazine. It should be noted that a motor switch is actuated along with any one of the coin operated switches to connect the motor 34 to a source of 110 volts AC. Whereas the coin operated switches are only momentary contacts that energize the solenoids 48- to set the finger latch 21 as was described with reference to FIGURE 4, the motor switch remains closed until the motor 34 has reciprocally operated the return plate 22 through one complete cycle and is then opened automatically. The solenoid 41 coupled to the release bar 37 is connected to a source of 110 volts AC through the limit switch 58. The solenoid 41 is energized as long as the apertured plate 42 is in its first position; however, it need be only momentarily energized to release the latch bar 54 from the notch 56.

In operation, assume a customer desires to purchase a food item represented by a card stored in the magazine at the left side of FIGURE 1. He inserts the proper number of coins into a coin slot to automatically close the appropriate coin operated switch thereby energizing the solenoid 48 of the finger latch 21 associated with the appropriate magazine. Energizing the solenoid 48 latches the finger 51 to the pin 57 of the apertured plate 4 2 located below the magazine containing cards of the desired food item. Depositing the proper number of coins in a coin slot also closes the motor switch thereby energizing the motor 34 to rotate the arms 31 and 32 to push the return plate 22 from its home position shown in FIGURE 3 to its first position shown in FIGURE 6. Since the finger 51 engages the pin 57, the apertured plate 42 is also moved from a home position to a first position by reason of the motion of the return plate 22. As the apertured plate 42 reaches a first position, it dispenses a card 46 onto the slide 43 and actuates the limit switch 58 to energize the solenoid 41. The solenoid 41 pulls the release bar 37 downward to rotate the latch bar 54 and the finger 51 is disengaged from the pin 57. Also, when the apertured plate 42 reaches its first position, the eccentrically operated linkage 36 causes the arms 31 and 32 to begin rotating in a clockwise direction (with reference to FIGURE 2) thereby moving the return plate 22 to its home position. The return plate 22 pushes against the pin 57 and the apertured plate 42 is also returned from its first position to its home position. As the apertured plate 42 returns to its home position, it dispenses a card 46 onto the slide 59. When the return plate 22 reaches its first position, the motor 34 opens the motor switch thereby disconnecting the motor from its energizing source.

The card dispensing mechanism has operated through a complete cycle discharging one card 46 onto the back slide 43 and a second card 46 onto a front slide 59. The card discharged onto the back slide 43 can be used by a cook to prepare the food item selected by the customer and the card discharged onto the front slide 59 is used by the customer to claim his purchased food item after it has been prepared.

It should be obvious that with the mechanism described above, it is nearly impossible to discharge more than two cards from a single magazine during one cycle. Two separate and independent actions are required to dispense cards from any one of the magazines. First, the finger 51 must engage the pin 57 and second the motor 34 must rotate the arms 31 and 32 in a counterclockwise and then clockwise direction. Should any one of the two separate operations fail, only two cards will be dispensed from one magazine. If the finger 51 remains engaged with the pin 57 because of a malfunction in the finger latch 21, the motor 31 still operates through only one cycle and only two cards will be discharged from a magazine 10. On the other hand, should the motor 34 continue to operate after completing one cycle, the finger 51 will be disengaged from the pin 57 during the first cycle thereby preventing the apertured plate 42 from being moved even though the return plate 22 continues to oscillate.

Referring to FIGURE 7, there is shown a duplexed arrangement of the card dispensing mechanism shown in FIGURE 1. The magazines 10a of the upper section 66 are mounted to the upper panel 16a of a platform fastened to a table 67. The finger latches 21a and the spring loaded release bar 37a are mounted to a return plate (not shown) reciprocally operated by means of arm 31a and linkage 26a. Similarly, the magazines 10b of the lower section 68 are mounted to the upper panel 16b of a platform connected to a lower stand 69. The table 67 is positioned above the stand 69 by means of legs 71 and 72. The finger latches 21b and the spring loaded release bar 37b are mounted to a return plate (not shown) reciprocally operable by means of arm 31b and the linkage 26b. The shaft 33b of the lower section is driven by an electric motor (not shown) and coupled to the shaft 74 of the upper section 66 by means of a chain 76-.

The operation of the dupleXed system shown in FIG- URE 7 is similar to that described with reference to the mechanism shown in FIGURE 1. All the elements described in FIGURES 1-6 would be duplicated for the system of FIGURE 7 except the motor 34 and its energizing switch. Instead of ten coin operated switches, there would now be twenty, and closing of any one of said switches would also close the motor switch. The return plates for both the upper mechanism 66 and the lower mechanism 68 are reciprocally operated between a home and a second position for each customer selection from one of the magazines 10a or 10b. The motor 34 operates through one cycle as was described previously. Of course, any number of units can be stacked as shown in FIGURE 7. A third group of ten magazines could be mounted above the upper section 66 and coupled to the motor 34 by another chain drive similar to chain 76.

Referring to FIGURE 8, there is shown a manually operated, card dispensing mechanism having a housing, largely broken away, including a front wall 81. Mounted to the inner side of the wall 81 is a coin box 82 having a top including a coin drop 83 and a latch slot 84 and extending through the wall 81. The top of the coin box 82 forms a guideway for a flat coin slide 85 having an upturned finger tab 86 on its upper end and thus being exposed exterially of the housing for manipulation. The slide 85 is of such length that it extends into the housing a substantial distance, running inwardly of the front wall 81 in the guideway formed by the top of the coin box 82. A locking arm 87 is disposed above the slide 85 inwardly of the front wall 81 and pivoted at a point 88 on a tab 89. The locking arm 87 is urged downwardly by a compression spring 91 between a bracket 92 and the upper edge of said arm intermediate its ends. The locking arm 87 is formed with an integral downwardly projecting dog tapered, as shown, to form an incline cam on its rear edge.

The rearwardly directed end of the slide 85 is provided with a tab 93 positioned in a slot 94 of an apertured plate 95, similar to the plate shown in FIGURE 5. The apertured plate 95 slides between the top surface of a lower panel 96 and the bottom surface of an upper panel 97 forming part of a card dispensing mechanism similar to that described with reference to FIGURES 16.

The card dispensing apparatus includes a magazine 98 having a plurality of cards 99 stored therein supported by the upper panel 97. At the open bottom of the magazine 98 there is slidably mounted, between the upper panel 97 and the lower panel 96, the apertured plate 95 movable to a first position by means of the tab 93 and to a home position by means of a return spring 101. Mounted to the underside of the lower panel 96, below the magazine 98, is a front slide 102 for directing a card to the customer and a back slide 103 for directing a card to a proprietor. Attached to the upper panel 97, above the front slide 102, is a counter 104 having a counting arm 106 extending through an opening in the panel. The arm 106 extends through the upper panel 97 into one of the openings of the apertured plate 95 and is actuated to advance the counter reading as said plate moves through one cycle from its home position (as shown) to a first position.

In operation, the slide 85 is formed with a coin receiving opening 107 which is accessible externally of the front Wall 81 when said slide is in its starting position. As the slide 85 is advanced with a coin in the opening 107, it moves to a point at which the coin opening 107 is aligned with the coin drop 83 of the coin box 82. The coin drops through the opening 83 into the coin box 82.

As the slide 85 is advanced to the coin discharge position, the tab 93 engages the aperture plate 95 pushing it from its home position to a first position thereby withdrawing a card 99 from the magazine 98 and discharging it through an opening in the lower panel 96 onto the back slide 103.

The customer releases the slide 85 and the spring 101 returns the aperture plate 95 to its home position and the slide 85 to its starting position. With the plate 95 in its first position, a card 99 dropped into the second opening of said plate and was carried forward therewith and discharged through an opening in the lower panel 96 onto the front slide 102, as shown. During the first part of the cycle of the aperture plate 95, the arm 106 of the counter 104 was rotated counterclockwise thereby advancing the counter reading by one digit. The arm 106 returns to a vertical position when the plate 95 is returned to its home position by the spring 101.

Should the slide 85 be operated without a coin in the coin opening 107, the dog of the latching arm 87 lowers to a position which blocks further advancing motion of the slide by passing through the coin opening into the slot 84. Thus, the slide 85 is blocked from further motion which would cause the tab 93 to engage the aperture plate 95. When the slide 85 is subsequently pulled forward, the inclined cam edge of the locking arm 87 causes it to swing upwardly to its normally inoperative position; it being recognized that when the slide is advanced with a coin in the opening 107, such coin prevents the latching arm 87 from [falling through the opening 107 and engaging the slot 84. The slot 84 is smaller than the opening 107 so that a coin may pass over said slot without dropping through into the coin box 82.

While several embodiments of the invention, together with modifications thereof, have been described in detail herein and shown in the accompanying drawings, it will be evident that various further modifications are possible in the arrangement and construction of its components without departing from the scope of the invention.

I claim:

1. A card dispensing apparatus comprising:

a magazine having a throat at the top thereof for receiving a stack of cards to be dispensed from an open bottom end,

an apertured plate slidably positioned at the bottom of said magazine between a first position for transferring one card from said magazine in a first direction and a home position for transferring a card from said magazine in a second direction,

a return plate slidably positioned to return said apertured plate from its first position to its home position,

actuating means engaging said apertured plate and aflixed to said return plate to move said apertured plate to its first position, and

means for releasing said apertured plate from said actuating means when said plate reaches its first position.

2. A card dispensing apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein said actuating means is a solenoid operated finger latch.

3. A card dispensing apparatus as set forth in claim 2 including a solenoid connected to said releasing means and energized when said apertured plate reaches its first position.

4. A card dispensing apparatus as set forth in claim 3 including a driving motor connected to said return plate to reciprocally operate it from a home position to a first position and back to its home position.

5. A card dispensing apparatus as set forth in claim 4 including a coin operated switch for momentarily energizing said actuating solenoid to engage said finger latch to said apertured plate and for energizing said driving motor to move said return plate through one complete cycle.

6. Card dispensing apparatus comprising:

a plurality of magazines each having a throat at the top thereof for receiving a stack of cards to be dispensed from an open bottom end,

an apertured plate positioned at the bottom of each of said magazines and slidable between a first position for transferring one card from the individual magazines in a first direction and a home position for transferring one card from the individual magazines in a second direction,

a return plate reciprocally operated to return said apertured plates from their first position to their home position,

latching means for each of said apertured plates fastened to said return plate and arranged to engage the individual apertured plates to move it from a home position to a first position, and

means for releasing said apertured plates from said latching means when said plate reaches its first position.

7. Card dispensing apparatus as set-forth in claim 6 wherein said latching means includes:

a solenoid having a movable plunger therein,

a spring loaded finger coupled to the plunger of said solenoid and rotatable between a first and a second position upon energization of said solenoid for engaging said apertured plate, and

a spring loaded latch bar rotatably mounted to hold said finger in engagement with said apertured plate.

8. Card dispensing apparatus as set forth in claim 7 wherein said releasing means includes a solenoid operated release bar for rotating said latch bar to disengage said finger when said apertured plate reaches its first position.

9. Card dispensing apparatus as set forth in claim 6 including a counter for maintaining a continuous inventory of the number of pairs of cards dispensed from each of said magazines.

10. Card dispensing apparatus as set forth in claim 9 including driving means connected to said return plate for reciprocally operating said plate from a home position to a first position and back to its home position.

11. Card dispensing apparatus as set forth in claim 10 wherein said driving means includes a shaft coupled to said return plate and a motor driven eccentric.

12. Card dispensing apparatus as set forth in claim 6 wherein one card is dispensed onto back slide for use by a proprietor and the second card is dispensed onto front slide for use by a customer.

13. coin operated card dispensing apparatus comprising:

a magazine having a throat at the top thereof for receiving a stack of cards to be dispensed from an open bottom end,

an aperture plate slidably positioned at the bottom of said magazine between a first position for transferring one card from said magazine in a first direction and a home position for transferring a card from said magazine in a second direction,

actuating means engaging said aperture plate to move said plate to its first position and back to its home position, and

locking means to co-operable with said actuating means to allow a single operation thereof upon presentation of the correct coins to said apparatus.

14. A card dispensing apparatus as set forth in claim 13 wherein said actuating means is a coin operated slide.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,578,951 12/1951 Shaver 194-10 2,673,133 3/1954 Koch 221-271 3,095,117 6/1963 Keefe 221-152 STANLEY H. TOLLBERG, Primary Examiner.

US. Cl. X.R. 221-224, 264, 271 

